GoTriangle Driver Wins State Competition
The famous Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway attracts the fastest drivers of souped-up stock cars. But it’s not the only test of driving skill in Concord this spring. The Roadeo, a timed competition that draws transit drivers across North Carolina, was held on April 6 at the zMax Dragway. And Miguel Garcia, a driver for GoTriangle, the region’s transit agency, was awarded first place in bus category in the statewide competition.
“Miguel was impressive and beat challengers from across the state, including Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, Wilmington, and
Chapel Hill, in his first-ever competition,” said GoTriangle Chief of Operations Vinson Hines Jr. “Miguel took home a first-place trophy, cash prize and qualification to compete in the 2025 National Roadeo in Austin, Texas. Congratulations, Miguel!”
For his part, Garcia was stunned to win. Practically pinching himself in disbelief, he walked up to accept the award. He just couldn’t believe he took first place.
“To me, it was a shock, being [that it was] the first time that I went [to compete],” he said, reflecting yesterday on winning. “So many people had done it and were good at it for so many years. They practiced more than I did. I went one day to practice.”
The Roadeo is a stressful test that requires serpentine maneuvering around a variety of obstacles with just an inch or two to spare, all of which must be accomplished within a few minutes.
Garcia was fully committed to performing well in his first-ever Roadeo competition and proved himself in Saturday’s event by beating out much more seasoned operators from across the state, said GoTriangle Assistant Director of Transit Operations Brian Andrews.
“Miguel took advantage of practice days hosted at GoRaleigh, studied his competition, and remained focused, tenacious, and determined to bring home the top prize for GoTriangle,” Andrews said. “The entire division is proud of Miguel and will cheer him on when he represents the organization in the 2025 National Roadeo in Texas. At Nationals, he will compete against the best and brightest bus operators from across the entire United States. He definitely proved on Saturday that you should never underestimate the underdog, they have nothing to lose and everything to prove. ”
Garcia is not only a newcomer to the Roadeo, but he’s also relatively new to the Triangle. He said he decided to move here after taking a vacation with his family in July 2021. Thirty days later, he had relocated from New York and was looking for work. He chose to work at GoTriangle because he felt the agency would allow him upward mobility in his career.
“You can grow here,” he recalls the GoTriangle recruiter telling him when he was interviewing for the job. “Grow” was the word Garcia said he was waiting to hear, so he signed on.
GoTriangle continues to recruit for bus operators and other positions and offers an excellent benefits package. Visit gotriangle.org/careers to learn more.